AIR BASE ENGLAND: THE MIGHTY EIGHTH IN WORLD WAR TWO. Part 1: The Bomber Airfields

Aviation History Research Centre (AHRC)

Radar Research Flying Unit (RRFU)

Blazon: An Eagle displayed wings inverted Or holding in each claw a Flash of Lightning Gules Link: The badge is symbolic of an aircraft fitted with radio apparatus. The eagle holding flashes of lightning in both claws also symbolises the reliance the service places on...

Greenock

Blazon: A Mast and Sail of a Ship proper Link: The badge is indicative of flying boats repaired and serviced at the station. It also has reference to the Arms of Greenock which include a ship in full sail. Date of Issue: June 1945 Motto: Gaelic: A’l cu, ail-suas N’as...

Greenham Common

Blazon: Issuant from an Astral Crown Or the upper part of an Ionic Pillar proper thereon an Eagle affrontee wings extended the head lowered an to the sinister of the first Link: This badge is a Close Copy of the badge granted to Support Command which supported other...

UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron (MAMS)

Blazon: In front of a Compass Rose of four points Azure a Swift volant wings in bend sinister Or Link: The device is intended to portray the unit’s role. The squadron is a quick reaction force of mobile and highly skilled air movements specialists who are capable of...

51 Squadron RAF Regiment

Blazon: In front of a Seax in bend sinister a Cheetah courant both proper Link: The cheetah, a swift, aggressive animal capable of being controlled is depicted in full course and the seax with its cutting edge to the dexter emphasising its military use refers to the...

RAF Cark

RAF Cark Awarded: January 1943 Blazon: A Lion rampant per pale Argent and Sable gorged with a Chaplet of Roses Gules Link: The lion is per pale Argent and Sable to symbolise the day and night training of pilots. It is gorged with a chaplet of red roses to associate it...

RAF Bicester

RAF Bicester Awarded: January 1958 Blazon: In front of a Roundel Argent charged with three Bars Wavy Azure a Jay close proper Link: The jay is to suggest the storage functions of the station. The roundel with wavy bars is introduced in reference to the family of...

St Andrews UAS

Awarded: Blazon: A Saltire Argent fimbriated Azure interlaced with a Mascle Or Link: This squadron of St Andrews’ University adopted as its badge his Cross together with a Mascle taken from the Arms attributed to Bishop Wardlaw who founded this university in the...

Nicosia

Awarded: April 1961 Blazon: In front of Wings conjoined in base Or a Lion couchant guardant Gules Link: This unit, being located in Cyprus, chose as its badge a Lion – an emblem long associated with the Island since the Venetian period – and also to symbolise that the...

Krendi (Qrendi)

Awarded: June 1944 Blazon: In front of a Maltese Cross Argent Gules a Phoenix Or Link: The Maltese Cross is in reference to the location. The phoenix symbolises the establishment of the station on the site of a ‘shadow’ aerodrome. Motto: Latin: Ad...

No.1312 Flight

Awarded: August 2002 Blazon: An Upland Goose in flight proper Link: The Upland Goose was chosen to symbolise 1312 Flight for a number of reasons; first, it is a large bird with an association with the larger aircraft types flown by the flight, the Hercules and VC10...

No.84 Group

Awarded: September 1946 Blazon: A Beaver sejant Gules holding in the forepaws an Astral Crown Or Link: The Group was formed first to work with the Second British Army and in 1944 worked with the First Canadian Army. As the HQ was formed at Oxford, a beaver has been...

Stornoway

Awarded: February 1845 Blazon: In front of a Beacon fired a dexter Hand grasping another in fesse Link: The function of this station is guiding aircraft flying over Stornoway from America to their bases in the south and the badge is indicative of that function....

RAF Bovingdon

Awarded: May 1966 Blazon: In front of a Beech Tree issuant from a grassy Mount a Hart’s Head caboshed Link: The station is located in Hertfordshire and has adopted a hart’s head because this is associated with this county. The beech tree is introduced to...